'Confusing!' Nicola Sturgeon under fire over roadmap out of Scotland coronavirus lockdown

NICOLA STURGEON'S roadmap out of Scotland's lockdown restrictions have been criticised as "confusing" after the Scottish First Minister broke away from the UK-wide strategy to fight the coronavirus crisis.

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Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlined a four-phase path out of the lockdown to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, with the first beginning on May 28, earlier this week. The move comes weeks after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his plans to ease lockdown restrictions, which prompted harsh criticism from Ms Sturgeon, who said he should make it clear the changes only applied to England.

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Days after breaking ranks with the UK, Ms Sturgeon introduced her own strategy, which critics have attacked as "confusing".

Scotland announced an ease in lockdown restrictions after England (Image: GETTY )

"I’ll give you an example, I have an 18-month-old son, from phase one which starts on Thursday, he’s allowed to go into his childminder’s house, but he’s not allowed to go into his granny’s house until phase three. Now that’s the sort of thing that people might not understand why that is. So I think the Government has to explain why they’re saying that.

“Why can you go and meet somebody and have a picnic in the local park but you’re not allowed to drive five miles to go to a different park to see your friends because they live next to that park.

"It’s how do you show people why you don’t want an area that maybe doesn’t have infection to have people from an area that does have a higher infection rate to come into it.

“So I think with a bit more explanation people will be much more on board if they can understand why certain things are being said. But I think if it’s just these are the rules and there is no explanation then I think you do worry that it might break down.”

The UK's states of easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions (Image: EXPRESS)

As part of Scotland's blueprint, Scots will be allowed to meet people from one other household, sunbathe and take part in some non-contact sports from the end of next week.

All schools will reopen on August 11, but to ensure social distancing in class children will return to a "blended model of part-time in-school and part-time at-home learning".

Phase one is scheduled to begin on May 28, with the review cycle concluding on June 18.

From that point, Scots will be able to meet people from one other household outside and while social distancing.